second fiddle

noun

1. a person or thing filling a secondary role, especially to one immediately superior (often used attributively): That new copycat seafood restaurant will never be more than a second fiddle to ours.

   He has a certain strength and humility that comes from being in a second-fiddle position for years.

   That new copycat seafood restaurant will never be more than a second fiddle to ours.

second fiddle

noun

1. 1. the second violin in a string quartet or one of the second violins in an orchestra

   2. the musical part assigned to such an instrument

2. a secondary status

3. a person who has a secondary status

Word History and Origins

Origin of second fiddle¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. play second fiddle, to act in a secondary role.

   She's tired of playing second fiddle to her egomaniacal teammate.

see play second fiddle.